Midnight audience for Italian oilmen

UNTIL the release by Biafra of 18 foreign oilmen, 14 of them Italians, condemned to death for allegedly collaborating with the Nigerians. all Italy was tense. resentful and impatient for official action to save the men from sharing the fate of 10 other Italians and another man,previously gunned to death by rampaging Bia. franc.
When news came at last that the Biafran leader, General Odumegku Ojuksvu. had let the imprisoned men go. there was general rejoicing, tempered, of course, with the mourning of families of the dead men, whose bodies arrived in Italy almost simultaneously with the announcement that the others would soon be home.
One of the people extremely active in attempting first to get real facts about the dead oilmen, and then to have the others freed. was Mgr. Carlo Bayer, Secretary-General of the Catholic relief organisation. Caritas lnternationalis. It has been flying ;n food and medicines for both Biafran and Nigerian refugees since March, 1968, and recently completed its 2,576th mercy mission.
While the story of the Biafran killings and condemnations was shocking Italy and the rest of the world, a report got around that resentment against the Biafrans was resulting in a drying-up of aid supplied through Caritas and allied relief organisations.
Caritas denied this. There had been no falling-off of support of aid to Biafra by any major supply sources. America, Germany, Switzerland and others, it said. There had naturally been more resentment in Italy than elsewhere, most of the victims being Italians. and this was reflected in a slight decrease in the number of postal orders for small amounts which Caritas had been receiving. In Italy, however. public contributions for food and medicines had always been small; the main contributions came from the Vatican.
It was announced in Geneva a few weeks ago that the European Economic Community would support the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Joint Church Aid (J.C.A.). which includes Caritas, in their relief programmes for the needy people of Nigeria-Biafra.
Assuming the airshuttle capacity, for May through August stayed at its present level, J.C.A. estimated a total of 22,000 tons of food would be required for that period. a communique said. In case the capacity should be increased, a minimum reserve of 8,000 tons brought total J.C.A. supplies up
to 30,0(X) tons.
"The following amounts have so far been offered," the communique added. "for shipment in May and June by co. operating agencies: UNICEF. 1,000 tons of stockfish and 650 tons of corn-soya-milk; Kirken Ulkomaanapu, Finland, 80 tons of dried milk; Church World Service (U.S.), 1,500 tons of rice and 1,200 tons of dried beans; Caritaszentrale der Schweiz and Hilfswerk der Evangelischer Kirchen (Switzerland) food as required and a pledge of up to one million Swiss francs' worth; Catholic Relief Services. 2,300 tons of rice plus an unlimited amount of food commodities as requi red."
The first Common Market supplies, to be used for feeding children, were to comprise 1,000 tons of maize grits, 1,500 tons of semolina. 1.000 tons of rolled barley and 1,000 tons of oats. These figures did not include shipments of medicines. textiles, blankets, clothing, tents. spare parts and other equipment, which were to be specially shipped to the Portuguese island of Sao Tome. from which charter planes into Biafra take off, by sea and air charter flight as required.
To provide a reserve for emergency purposes and against the possibility of a further increase in the airlift into Biafra, it was also announced that a new 5.000-ton warehouse near Sao Tome airport was being built. The island's unloading facilities were also being improved.